Building a solid arsenal of tools is one of the best ways to ensure your supply chain process moves as efficiently as possible. 


One of the more overlooked tools in the shipping industry is a truck with a lift gate. 


A lift gate on a truck, or a tailgate, is a fold-away metal platform that mounts to the back. When the tailgate is extended out, it can act as a platform that makes lifting freight from the ground level up to the height of the trailer’s bed much more manageable. 


Through this article, we go over what a tailgate is and how it can benefit your business. 

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What is a Tailgate in Logistics?

Tailgates are platforms located at the rear of trucks and are using for loading and unloading heavy freight that does not have access to docks or forklifts.


The tailgate allows those handling the freight to use a pallet jack to move a palletized loads from the trailer to the truck. They can then move the fright down to the ground through the tailgate and into a building, making transferring cumbersome loads much more effortless. 


While the typical freight dimensions and weight can vary from carrier to carrier, it is usually 72”L x 48”W x 82”H and 1300-1500 lbs.

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Benefits of Using a Tailgate Service

Tailgates come with many benefits, some more obvious than others. Here is a look at some of the more notable benefits that come with using a tailgate. 


  • Reduces Chance of Injuries - One of the leading causes of job site injuries is lifting heavy materials. While having an injured employer is terrible enough, it can also waste time and cause someone to sue. Injuries like these are caused by overexertion and improper lifting technique. However, with a tailgate, you can avoid the potential injury altogether. 


  • Prevents Product Damage - Having products fall from a tailer bed is almost guaranteed to break any product within.  Broken products can start to add up and end up costing you a significant amount of money. Not only will you lose money on the damaged products, but you will also have to pay for the delivery. Using tailgates can significantly reduce the chance of damage as products will have the additional platform to save them from falling from a great height when transferring from the truck. 


  • Reduces Labour - Tailgates lessen the need for excessive labour and can lead to fewer disruptions at work. The platform ensures that workers will not have to spend additional time transferring products from the truck and into the warehouse. 


At FlexSpace Logistics, we offer trucks with tailgates at many of our facilities across Canada, so regardless of the location of your business, we will have the resources to accommodate. We will handle your shipping and logistic needs with care so you can get back to the more pertinent aspects of your business. 


If you’d like to get started, get a quote today, or contact one of our FlexSpace Logistics advisors to find the right solution for your business at 1-844-985-3539.